About the Author

David Rigby is the author of Allied Master Strategists, which won the 2012 John Lyman Book Award for best US naval history. He holds a PhD in comparative history and works as an adjunct instructor at Boston-area colleges and universities.

Reviews

“David Rigby’s pithily written, hard-hitting book neatly encapsulates why the United States has been so successful at warfare over the past two hundred fifty years, and sets down lessons that should be required reading in the military academies and the White House. The product of a lifetime’s research and much profound thought on the subject, No Substitute for Victory also explains how America lost its way in Vietnam. It sets out the five key lessons that need to be learned to reestablish the phenomenon that the world needs more than anything else right now: American greatness.” —Andrew Roberts, author of the New York Times bestselling The Storm of War

"In No Substitute for Victory Rigby has given us a manual for victory in war based upon an insightful examination of past American successes and strategies. These include (1) Concentrate strength at the decisive point; (2) There is more to strategic success than military power; (3) Strive for clear and consistent war aims; (4) Take advantage of enemy mistakes; and (5) Unity of command. Sun Tzu would not be surprised at these, but so much of our adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq disregarded these requirements. The success of the 2007 surge validated them. Civilian policy makers desperately need this astute analysis—that they never came across in their Ivy League educations—and the military senior ranks always seem to need a refresher course. I cannot recommend this highly enough.” —Peter G. Tsouras, military historian, former senior intelligence officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency, former US Army officer, and author of over twenty books

“David Rigby’s pithily written, hard-hitting book neatly encapsulates why the United States has been so successful at warfare over the past two hundred fifty years, and sets down lessons that should be required reading in the military academies and the White House. The product of a lifetime’s research and much profound thought on the subject, No Substitute for Victory also explains how America lost its way in Vietnam. It sets out the five key lessons that need to be learned to reestablish the phenomenon that the world needs more than anything else right now: American greatness.” —Andrew Roberts, author of the New York Times bestselling The Storm of War

"In No Substitute for Victory Rigby has given us a manual for victory in war based upon an insightful examination of past American successes and strategies. These include (1) Concentrate strength at the decisive point; (2) There is more to strategic success than military power; (3) Strive for clear and consistent war aims; (4) Take advantage of enemy mistakes; and (5) Unity of command. Sun Tzu would not be surprised at these, but so much of our adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq disregarded these requirements. The success of the 2007 surge validated them. Civilian policy makers desperately need this astute analysis—that they never came across in their Ivy League educations—and the military senior ranks always seem to need a refresher course. I cannot recommend this highly enough.” —Peter G. Tsouras, military historian, former senior intelligence officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency, former US Army officer, and author of over twenty books